The impacts of any conflict are never merely confined to those officially declared to be involved. The widespread consequences of a conflict can often be felt throughout the international community and it is often these effects that are most highly publicised and discussed. Where the impact is often most devastating experienced however, is within the region that the conflict itself is taking place. The meaningful development of the region has undoubtedly been drastically effected by the on-going conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people, to an extent in which every nation that exists within the vicinity of Israel territory has suffered because of it. The impacts that are focused on here involves the stifling pressures that the refugee problem has created upon the region and the consequences that the fear of constant conflict has on creating an environment which is conductive to progressive development.
Refugees
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency it is estimated there are approximately 4.7 million registered Palestinian refugees currently living in and around camps established within the Palestinian occupied territory, as well as in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.[1] These people are divided between those that inhabit the 58 recognised camps and those who live in the cities in the nearby vicinity of the camps.[2] The problem of Palestinian refugees is not solely confined to israel and Palestine, as Palestinian refugees inhabit camps and living quarters within all the aforementioned nations and hence the impact of this problem extends into those nations in which the refugees live. The Palestinian people are effectively a population of displaced persons and have been that way since 1948 when “more than half of the Palestinian population at the time - 1,800,000 people- were driven off their homeland by the Israeli Army”.[3] During the multiple ensuing conflicts that Israel has partaken in they have developed a position which has seen them overlook the Palestinians as a group centred on a push for sovereignty but more simply as a refugee problem. Galia Golan reiterates this when stating that the “Israeli attitude that the conflict was one between states and that the Palestinians did not need to be seen as a people with national rights but were to be treated only as a refugee problem”.[4] This problem however has grown to extend beyond just affecting Israel and is now drastically impacting the other nations in the region.
The sheer number of refugees coupled with the poor conditions in which they live have now begun to place significant pressures upon the Egyptian borders. Other than Israel, Egypt is the only country to share a border with the Gaza strip. This places Egypt in a precarious position as to whether they come to the aid of the Palestinians as fellow Arabs or they their already unstable relationship with Israel by appearing to openly support the Palestinian cause.
While Egypt has many avenues of control over the Gaza situation, the area in which its influence is most marked is in control of the border, and more specifically, control of trade through Egypt into Gaza. Since 2006, Israel has exercised tight trade restrictions over Gaza limiting the flow of essentially goods and services including overseas aid that reach the people of Gaza.[5] This has had catastrophic implications for the population of Gaza, whose living standards and hopes for the future have drastically decreased since the restrictions began.
While Egypt could have chosen to not implement the same restrictions, and hence allow Gaza to be less detrimentally effected, it chose instead to duplicate the trade ban. There are two major reasons for Egypt's decision to not support Gaza, in spite of the fact that the majority of Egyptians, and Arabs as a whole, would much rather see Egypt allowing trade into Gaza through its border. Firstly, the Egyptian government does not want to assume responsibility for Gaza; currently the area is Israel's responsibility and Israel's problem. If Egypt began supporting Gaza it would inevitable end up bearing much of this responsibility for a portion of the refugee problem, which currently it has no direct dealings. Secondly, the Egyptian government has an interest in seeing Hamas weakened, and the starvation of Gaza from goods acts towards achieving such weakening.
This trade impasse on the Gaza strip has led to the construction of a large number of tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border by smugglers and desperate citizens. This has evolved into a burgeoning problem for Egypt, particularly as the tunnels are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza,described by some as a growing industry,[6] in addition to other consumer goods which are sold at huge premiums. The high numbers of disenfranchised Palestinians that populate Gaza, with th e aid of Hamas have begun blowing holes in the wall of the Egyptian side of the Gaza blockade so to launch expeditions into Egyptian territory, such as the attempts on 23 Jan 2008 shown in the above video, in search of essential items that the trade restrictions have prevented them from obtaining. This represents the focal point of the Gaza refugee problem and its connection with Egyptian border security and the Egyptian authorities haave sought to destroy as many of the tunnels and mend any wall breaches as possible, but this has proved to be an astonishingly difficult task.
Lebanon has also experienced a rise in anti-Palestinian sentiment which has resulted in the refugee’s living there being made scapegoats for local problems (See video below Lebanon’s Relationship With Palestine). Refugees have become a source for cultural tension with much of the Lebanese populous now wanting them to be housed elsewhere. This possible could stem from public opinion that the Israeli war on Lebanon and otyher social problems are somehow exacerbated by the presence of the Palestinians.[7]
Instability Within The Region
Unfortunately, Israeli-Palestinian troubles are not the only conflict to have plagued the region. Military conflicts between Israel and the surrounded Arab nations have occurred frequently throughout the last century and these have further exacerbated not only the plight of the Palestinians but also the hopes for prolonged stability within the region. Tanya Reinhart has stated that the regions “political and military leadership is still driven by the greed for land, water resources and power”,[8] and these desires have meant a permeating shroud of uneasiness remains constantly hanging over the region, much to the dismay of the Palestinians. The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people has inevitably created an angry Arab populous which would naturally look towards their supporters for assistance in combating the greater enemy. Individual political relationships that exist between Israel and its neighbouring nations along with infighting that exists within the Arab side, any hopes for a unified Arab front being erected against Israel has been “disturbed by inter-Arab conflicts”.[9] The root cause of this bickering between states seems to stem from the Israeli occupation of Arab territories and the differing views on how tackle the economic, social and military problems have proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the region. Israel possesses territory that once belonged to Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon and most of this land is now being used to house Palestinian refugees.[10] This now creates a situation in which these neighbouring nations are closely involved with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impacts resulting from it namely dealing with the refugee problem, bearing economic burdens and existing in a region in which re-occurring conflict has become normality.
The impact of virtually any conflict will inevitably extend beyond the declared combatants and begin to affect those within the region. Although not the singular driving force being the conflict, the ethnic and religious aspects of the Israeli-Palestine situation has meant that an entrenched divide has been somewhat established between Jews and Arabs. Over the duration of the conflict Palestinians have called for more assistance from their Arab neighbours however political issues in regards to Israel as well as disputes between the Arabs themselves have prevented a unified Arab front. The conflict has also placed pressure upon neighbouring nations both politically and militarily. The West Bank, which is traditionally the territory of Jordan, has proved a contentious issue. It’s central position within the region coupled with its housing of Palestinian refugees has caused some analysts such as Adam Garfunkle to state that the “Arab-Israeli conflict is as dangerous to Jordan as it is Israel".[11] With the surrounding nations feeling the pressure resultant from the conflict a satisfactory solution would clearly be in the best interest of all those directly or indirectly involved so as not to hinder progress and the development of the region in aspects including economically, security and politically, which are currently impaired because of the situation in Gaza.
^ United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, 'About UNRWA', 2010, (online) Retrieved 19 April 2010 <http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=47>.
^ United Nations Relief and Works Agency For Palestinian Refugees, Palestine Refugees, 2010(online) Retrieved 19 April 2010 <http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=86>.
^ Reinhart, T. Israel/Palestine: How To End The War of 1948, Sydney, Allen & Unwin, 2003 p.7.
^ Galia Golan, 'The Evolution of Israeli Policy on The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict', Palestine-Israel Journal of Politics, Economics and Culture, 2008, Vol. 15 Issue 2 pp. 33.
^ Reinhart, T, Israel/Palestine: How To End The War of 1948, p. 11.
^ Lesch, A.M, Political Perceptions Of The Palestinians On The West Bank and The Gaza Strip, Washington, The Middle East Institute, 1980, p.82.
^ Lesch, A.M. Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians: From Camp David to Infitada, Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 1989 p. 41.
^ Adam M. Garfunkle, The Importance of Being Hussein in Robert O'Freeman (ed.) The Middle East From the Iran-Contra Affair to the Infitada, New York, Syracuse University Press, 1991 p. 268.
The impacts of any conflict are never merely confined to those officially declared to be involved. The widespread consequences of a conflict can often be felt throughout the international community and it is often these effects that are most highly publicised and discussed. Where the impact is often most devastating experienced however, is within the region that the conflict itself is taking place. The meaningful development of the region has undoubtedly been drastically effected by the on-going conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people, to an extent in which every nation that exists within the vicinity of Israel territory has suffered because of it. The impacts that are focused on here involves the stifling pressures that the refugee problem has created upon the region and the consequences that the fear of constant conflict has on creating an environment which is conductive to progressive development.
Refugees
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency it is estimated there are approximately 4.7 million registered Palestinian refugees currently living in and around camps established within the Palestinian occupied territory, as well as in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.[1] These people are divided between those that inhabit the 58 recognised camps and those who live in the cities in the nearby vicinity of the camps.[2] The problem of Palestinian refugees is not solely confined to israel and Palestine, as Palestinian refugees inhabit camps and living quarters within all the aforementioned nations and hence the impact of this problem extends into those nations in which the refugees live. The Palestinian people are effectively a population of displaced persons and have been that way since 1948 when “more than half of the Palestinian population at the time - 1,800,000 people- were driven off their homeland by the Israeli Army”.[3] During the multiple ensuing conflicts that Israel has partaken in they have developed a position which has seen them overlook the Palestinians as a group centred on a push for sovereignty but more simply as a refugee problem. Galia Golan reiterates this when stating that the “Israeli attitude that the conflict was one between states and that the Palestinians did not need to be seen as a people with national rights but were to be treated only as a refugee problem”.[4] This problem however has grown to extend beyond just affecting Israel and is now drastically impacting the other nations in the region.The sheer number of refugees coupled with the poor conditions in which they live have now begun to place significant pressures upon the Egyptian borders. Other than Israel, Egypt is the only country to share a border with the Gaza strip. This places Egypt in a precarious position as to whether they come to the aid of the Palestinians as fellow Arabs or they their already unstable relationship with Israel by appearing to openly support the Palestinian cause.
While Egypt has many avenues of control over the Gaza situation, the area in which its influence is most marked is in control of the border, and more specifically, control of trade through Egypt into Gaza. Since 2006, Israel has exercised tight trade restrictions over Gaza limiting the flow of essentially goods and services including overseas aid that reach the people of Gaza.[5] This has had catastrophic implications for the population of Gaza, whose living standards and hopes for the future have drastically decreased since the restrictions began.
While Egypt could have chosen to not implement the same restrictions, and hence allow Gaza to be less detrimentally effected, it chose instead to duplicate the trade ban. There are two major reasons for Egypt's decision to not support Gaza, in spite of the fact that the majority of Egyptians, and Arabs as a whole, would much rather see Egypt allowing trade into Gaza through its border. Firstly, the Egyptian government does not want to assume responsibility for Gaza; currently the area is Israel's responsibility and Israel's problem. If Egypt began supporting Gaza it would inevitable end up bearing much of this responsibility for a portion of the refugee problem, which currently it has no direct dealings. Secondly, the Egyptian government has an interest in seeing Hamas weakened, and the starvation of Gaza from goods acts towards achieving such weakening.
This trade impasse on the Gaza strip has led to the construction of a large number of tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border by smugglers and desperate citizens. This has evolved into a burgeoning problem for Egypt, particularly as the tunnels are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza,described by some as a growing industry,[6] in addition to other consumer goods which are sold at huge premiums. The high numbers of disenfranchised Palestinians that populate Gaza, with th e aid of Hamas have begun blowing holes in the wall of the Egyptian side of the Gaza blockade so to launch expeditions into Egyptian territory, such as the attempts on 23 Jan 2008 shown in the above video, in search of essential items that the trade restrictions have prevented them from obtaining. This represents the focal point of the Gaza refugee problem and its connection with Egyptian border security and the Egyptian authorities haave sought to destroy as many of the tunnels and mend any wall breaches as possible, but this has proved to be an astonishingly difficult task.
Lebanon has also experienced a rise in anti-Palestinian sentiment which has resulted in the refugee’s living there being made scapegoats for local problems (See video below Lebanon’s Relationship With Palestine). Refugees have become a source for cultural tension with much of the Lebanese populous now wanting them to be housed elsewhere. This possible could stem from public opinion that the Israeli war on Lebanon and otyher social problems are somehow exacerbated by the presence of the Palestinians.[7]
Instability Within The Region
Unfortunately, Israeli-Palestinian troubles are not the only conflict to have plagued the region. Military conflicts between Israel and the surrounded Arab nations have occurred frequently throughout the last century and these have further exacerbated not only the plight of the Palestinians but also the hopes for prolonged stability within the region. Tanya Reinhart has stated that the regions “political and military leadership is still driven by the greed for land, water resources and power”,[8] and these desires have meant a permeating shroud of uneasiness remains constantly hanging over the region, much to the dismay of the Palestinians. The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people has inevitably created an angry Arab populous which would naturally look towards their supporters for assistance in combating the greater enemy. Individual political relationships that exist between Israel and its neighbouring nations along with infighting that exists within the Arab side, any hopes for a unified Arab front being erected against Israel has been “disturbed by inter-Arab conflicts”.[9] The root cause of this bickering between states seems to stem from the Israeli occupation of Arab territories and the differing views on how tackle the economic, social and military problems have proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the region. Israel possesses territory that once belonged to Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon and most of this land is now being used to house Palestinian refugees.[10] This now creates a situation in which these neighbouring nations are closely involved with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impacts resulting from it namely dealing with the refugee problem, bearing economic burdens and existing in a region in which re-occurring conflict has become normality.The impact of virtually any conflict will inevitably extend beyond the declared combatants and begin to affect those within the region. Although not the singular driving force being the conflict, the ethnic and religious aspects of the Israeli-Palestine situation has meant that an entrenched divide has been somewhat established between Jews and Arabs. Over the duration of the conflict Palestinians have called for more assistance from their Arab neighbours however political issues in regards to Israel as well as disputes between the Arabs themselves have prevented a unified Arab front. The conflict has also placed pressure upon neighbouring nations both politically and militarily. The West Bank, which is traditionally the territory of Jordan, has proved a contentious issue. It’s central position within the region coupled with its housing of Palestinian refugees has caused some analysts such as Adam Garfunkle to state that the “Arab-Israeli conflict is as dangerous to Jordan as it is Israel".[11] With the surrounding nations feeling the pressure resultant from the conflict a satisfactory solution would clearly be in the best interest of all those directly or indirectly involved so as not to hinder progress and the development of the region in aspects including economically, security and politically, which are currently impaired because of the situation in Gaza.